2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arizona
[Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 25 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arizona
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies in Arizona. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $10,655. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $40,977 early in their careers. Set against $10,655 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies will find it at Yavapai College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $52,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Arizona College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Thatcher. In-state tuition and fees average $2,352, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $6,781. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Set against $6,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Glendale, Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $15,996. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Glendale Community College Glendale Az earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,996 median debt.
Chandler Gilbert Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $10,447. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. That is a strong return on a $10,447 median debt.
Mesa Community College placed #6 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Mesa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Mesa. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Arizona State University earned the #7 position for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,203 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $41,432. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Arizona University came in at #8 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Students borrow a median of $19,700 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $28,786 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona came in at #9 for value in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $21,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Prescott College placed #10 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,490. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Prescott College generally make around $42,966. That is a strong return on a $27,230 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Bryan University Los Angeles placed #11 among the best values for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Bryan University Los Angeles is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,219. Typical student debt for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates is $16,223. Early-career parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies graduates make about $32,969. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grand Canyon University landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $34,723. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Ottawa University Surprise ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Surprise, Ottawa University Surprise is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,880. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Ottawa University Surprise generally make around $30,426. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ottawa University Surprise admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
